Hello Santa Barbara! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Teacher housing plan, family safari sleepover, and pollinator-palooza + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
District housing plan advances: Santa Barbara Unified approved repurchasing 3.65 acres next to El Camino Elementary for 106 income-restricted homes prioritizing teachers and staff, with eight reserved for veterans, managed by the Housing Authority -- see the housing plan details.
Family-friendly nature activities: Celebrate National Pollinator Week at Pollinator-Palooza this Sunday, June 28, at Arroyo Burro Open Space, with a free iNaturalist bioblitz, kids’ pollinator crafts, and Library on the Go activities -- get the full event details.
Shaping the city’s future: Citywide outreach is underway this summer for Santa Barbara’s new Parks and Recreation Master Plan, with staff meeting residents in parks and inviting input through a citywide survey -- learn how to share input.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Leafy home refresh: If your living room could use a little chlorophyll boost, Idyll Mercantile has the kind of indoor tropicals, women-made art, and low-key workshops that make you leave with a happy plant and the confidence to keep it alive, plus that subtle “my home is thriving” energy.
Art, turtles, and patios: Skip the State Street rush and wander La Arcada Plaza, a 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival courtyard packed with local boutiques, galleries, and casual bites. Do the mini treasure hunt, wave to the bronze dolphins, and let the turtle fountain set your weekend pace.
Breathe by the bluffs: When your week needs a quick recalibration, Shoreline Park serves up sweeping ocean views, picnic-friendly grass, a playground for the littles, mellow walking paths for podcast laps, and that clutch stairway to the sand when only bare feet and sea breeze will do.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
Wish you had someone to talk to right now? The quiet hours are the hardest, especially when you just want someone to talk to. That's exactly what this is built for: real conversations, real matches, real people. Not endless swiping, but actual chats with singles who want to connect as much as you do. Someone to talk to could be a message away. *Join now and start chatting → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🏘 Meet Me in Old Town Goleta 2026 @ Community West Bank | Wednesday (6/24) at 5:00 PM – Old Town throws a proper block party outside Community West Bank, with space, live music, great eats, and world soccer on big screens. Neighbors mingling, kids racing for free Kona Ice, art stations, a mobile library, and a COX lounge that makes cheering feel civic.
🦋 The Art of Science: Drawing Butterflies & Moths @ Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History | Thursday (6/25) at 1:30 PM – Swing by the museum for a drop-in drawing session where butterflies and moths sit still, at least on paper. With staff guiding you through butterfly and moth illustrations, sketch, learn how art fuels science, and flex pencil muscles. Pencils only, materials provided, free with admission.
🦁 Family Safari Sleepover @ Santa Barbara Zoo | Friday (6/26) at 6:30 PM – Skip the backyard campout. Go behind the scenes at the Zoo, toast s'mores by the fire, sleep under the stars, then wake to breakfast, an animal encounter, and roaming. BYO camping gear, layers, and flashlight, plus a sense of adventure; $95, or $85 for members.
📚 Storytime @ Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center | Saturday (6/27) at 10:30 AM – Need a quick, low-drama outing that will not wreck nap schedules? Sea Center staff and volunteers spin stories inside Dive In, a 15-minute splash of ocean magic for all ages, extra fun for 10-and-unders, included with admission, members free, and ADA accessible.
🃏 Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament @ Metro Entertainment | Saturday (6/27) at 6:00 PM – Take a break from adulting and dust off your deck for Yu-Gi-Oh at Metro Entertainment. Saturday evenings bring laid-back tournaments with OTS packs, good company, and just enough childhood nostalgia to make you feel spry, strategic, and mildly competitive again.
🐝 Pollinator-Palooza @ Arroyo Burro Open Space | Sunday (6/28) at 10:00 AM – Trade errands for a Pollinator Week bioblitz at Arroyo Burro Open Space, with iNaturalist, kid-friendly activities, and a stroll to see how creek restoration helps the buzzers. Your camera roll finally earns its keep, and you might even tell a bee from a wasp.
💃 Line Dancing @ Captain Fatty's Brewery (Goleta) | Sunday (6/28) at 4:00 PM – Whether your boots are broken in or borrowed, Sundays at Captain Fatty’s bring laid-back line-dance lessons to current hits, friendly instructors, and permission to laugh at yourself. Sip a craft brew between spins, and call the $10 an easy win for cardio, coordination, and camaraderie.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Santa Barbara report Weather forecastToday — High: 79°F — Low: 61°F — Precip: 0%
Patchy fog before 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind 0 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 77°F — Low: 55°F — Precip: 0%
Patchy fog before 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Later: Patchy fog after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. This house is wildThis newly built modern farmhouse spans nearly 4,000 square feet on about 3 private acres, designed by architect Thomas Ochsner with rustic-modern Santa Barbara flair. The main level keeps daily living and the primary suite on one floor, wrapped in a covered deck. Inside, hewn beams, a Wolf and Sub-Zero kitchen, and solar-powered, fire-resistant construction elevate the retreat.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
